April 26, 2003

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' men's tennis team claims the American Southwest Conference title Saturday at Streich Tennis Center and David Wu was honored as the ASC Men's Tennis Tournament Most Valuable Player. The Cowboys won 6-3 over Mississippi College in finals action.

In men's singles action, Hardin-Simmons took four of the six matches played. Mitch Aston, Brad Grace, David Wu and Bryce Hicks won their matches for HSU while Thomas Blalock and Adam Cladwell won their singles matches for MC. Aston defeated Drew Brooks, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1; Grace defeated Ryan Seaton, 7-6, 6-2; Wu defeated Jason Smith, 6-2, 6-2 and Hicks defeated Trey Griffith, 7-6, 5-2. Blalock defeated Mark Plowman, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 and Caldwell defeated Justin Narvid, 6-3, 6-3.

In men's doubles action, the Cowboys won two of the three matches played. HSU's Grace/Wu defeated Griffith/Seaton, 8-1 and the Cowboy team of Narvid/Hicks defeated Caldwell/Chris Tallarico, 8-3. MC's Brooks/Blalock defeated Aston/Plowman, 8-6.

Hardin-Simmons' own freshman David Wu from Abilene was honored as the ASC Men's Tennis Tournament MVP as voted by the league's coaches. Wu won both of his singels and doubles matches this weekend at the ASC Tournament and has not lost a conference team match this year. "I am excited and surprised about this honor," said Wu. "There are so many guys on this team who worked hard this year to make the team great, so I want to thank them all."

Hardin-Simmons men's tennis team finishes an incredible year out as the ASC Champions with an overall record of 14-4 and 9-0 in ASC action while the Mississippi College Choctaws men's tennis team also finished the year out with an overall record of 14-4 and an ASC record of 5-1.

-- HSU ATHLETICS ---

Results To Follow

Men's Finals

Hardin-Simmons 6 - Mississippi College 3

Singles

1 - Mitch Aston (HSU) def. Drew Brooks (MC), 6-2, 4-6, 6-1

2 - Thomas Blalock (MC) def. Mark Plowman (HSU), 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

3 - Brad Grace (HSU) def. Ryan Seaton (MC), 7-6, 6-2

4 - David Wu (HSU) def. Jason Smith (MC), 6-2, 6-2

5 - Adam Caldwell (MC) def. Justin Narvid (HSU), 6-3, 6-3

6 - Bryce Hicks (HSU) def. Trey Griffith (MC), 7-6, 5-2

Doubles

1 - Brooks/Blalock (MC) def. Aston/Plowman (HSU), 8-6

2 - Grace/Wu (HSU) def. Griffith/Seaton (MC), 8-1

3 - Narvid/Hicks (HSU) def. Caldwell/Chris Tallarico (MC), 8-3